Recent research progress of soil nematode ecology in China

• Published in: Ying yong sheng tai xue bao Vol. 35; no. 8; p. 2282
• Main Authors: Liang, Si-Wei, Liu, Xiao-Tong, Li, Ying-Bin, Liang, Wen-Ju
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China 01.08.2024
• Subjects: Animals; Biodiversity; China; Ecology; Ecosystem; Nematoda - growth & development; Soil - chemistry; Soil - parasitology; China; soil biological health; ecological service function; soil nematode ecology; soil micro-food web
• ISSN: 1001-9332
• DOI: 10.13287/j.1001-9332.202408.031

Soil nematodes are a crucial component of belowground ecosystems. Soil nematode ecology, the studies of community distribution, structural composition, ecological functions, and interaction mechanisms with environment, has always been a hot spot in soil biology research. We systematically elaborated soil nematodes' high diversity and various diet, their advantages as bioindicator and model organisms, and their roles in biological control, ecological functions and soil health. Then, we reviewed the research progress of soil nematode ecology in China, including molecular biology identification methods, responses to global changes, food web structure and function, aboveground and belowground diversity relationship, and large-scale diversity pattern. We put forward the development trend of soil nematology, focusing on the high-throughput sequencing technology in nematode identification and quantification, the necessity of establishing a universal analysis platform to promote soil nematode research, and the importance of strengthening large-scale soil nematode survey.